Waxahachie, TX (Law Firm Newswire) October 11, 2013 - According to the Rand Institute for Civil Justice, only 10 percent of people who are injured seek some from of compensation and as little as 2 percent of them file lawsuits.

Since 1991, according to additional research done by the Rand Institute, personal injury lawsuits have decreased by a whopping 21 percent. Far from being a serious issue of frivolous filing, the overwhelming majority of personal injury lawsuits are filed when there has been serious harm.

Still, when the public hears about a woman falling in a fast food restaurant and filing suit for damages, they may think the suit is frivolous. Not so for a woman who alleges she slipped and fell in a League City McDonald’s and her injuries were severe enough to require medical assistance.

"Personal injury lawsuits arising from unsafe conditions in public places, such as restaurants and fast food establishments, occur far more often than many people realize," commented Waxahachie personal injury lawyer John Hale.

League City resident Beth Garcia is seeking damages; her personal injury lawsuit, filed on September 4 of this year in Galveston County District Court, named McDonald’s Corp. and Kacom Communications Inc. as defendants. Her husband, Michael, is listed as a co-claimant in the litigation.

According to Ms. Garcia, she was a customer at the McDonald's restaurant in question on Sept. 23, 2011, when she says she slipped and fell in the dining room area next to the condiment and drink dispensing station, due to spilled liquids and other materials left on the floor. The fall, according to her suit, was caused by negligence of the store management in failing to properly maintain the floors in a safe condition, which created a hazard to patrons.

When Ms. Garcia fell, she also struck a door jamb which led into the play area. Her injuries were suspected to be severe enough that 911 was called. She was treated at Clear Lake Regional Hospital for a dislocated shoulder and a fracture of the right humerus. She underwent a procedure which reduced the dislocation of her shoulder and was treated for her leg fracture, according to the suit. Ms. Garcia and her husband are seeking unspecified monetary damages.

"Even a minor spill on a slick surface can be a serious hazard," said Hale. "It is the establishment's responsibility to properly maintain the environment so that conditions are safe for patrons."